Hellstar

Reach

Master President

Wolves

Characters

Characters

Characters

Characters

The Temomere Extent

The Cops

The Hungry

Then come the soldiers. Black and green mottled light plates over a black body-suit, chunky helmets that cover the whole face on their heads. Each after the first who has a clean, boxy SMG carries a heavy slug-throwing rifle of sensible design.

The Conspiracy(?)

Brother Lukas Smoke

Lukas takes off the cloak, spreads it, and lays it facing the stove over another chair. Smith rolls one of the mugs around, swirling the contents over the heat.

A thin line is etched around Lukas’ neck — a vine-like tattoo. The leaves might also be circuit traceries.

Brother Bill Smith / Wisdom

The big man sits up, rubbing hands over his face vigorously. For all he’s a healthy specimen, he looks exhausted, haunted, mahogany skin pale in a different way from Lukas’.

Wisdom Foundry

President Raptor

An eight-foot tall, twenty-foot long (including the tail) Utahraptor, lightly feathered, white base with burgandy and purple stripes like a loosely wrapped tiger, PRaptor is wearing only a huge broadcast headset with lip-mic in front of his extended maw. One claw is up, throwing the horns, as he leaps with disturbing agility onto the stage, scattering a few overeager reporters.

Press Pool

Diane Killian

Diane Killian slips in from the side door and whispers in PRaptor’s ear-hole. There are some short, sharp gestures of cutting or chopping and a pained grimace.

Vladimir Putin

President Putin of Russia is currently in a small window to the side, looking irate.

PRESIDENT RAPTORPutin, buddy, pal! How’s it goin’? Oligarchy workin’ out for ya?

Putin grimaces in frustration.

VLADIMIR PUTIN(good, solid, boomy surround sound)President Raptor, I thought we had an agreement on the Ukraine, yes? My Little Green Men would come in with minimal invitation and your NATO forces would — overlook — certain procedural irregularities.

The Pack

The Masters(?)

Eoward Sumpter

EOWARD SUMPTER (the PILOT) sits enveloped in the pit, hands on a couple of manual controls. A featureless facemask hangs around his neck above a well-worn seal-suit. The top of his helmet tilts back behind his head. Several recently bleeding cuts line his temple and the side of his neck.

Tel

The OUTLINE OF THE TELEMERE in one corner of the displays blinks in time with a voice.

TELOMEREThe nearest grocery is within an eighteen-thousand year spacewalk, Pilot Sumpter. If you start now —

SUMPTER— I could make it by dinnertime. You have a dark sense of humor, Tel.

TELOMEREI’m not the one that had his ship blown up by faulty maintenance.

The SWAT Team

A SWAT team (or local variant) crouches or sprawls behind some makeshift black barriers. Ten men, body armor, pistols and shotguns. Four have SMGs, though in much better shape than Hampton’s.

Pilot

Black helmets and black face-masks obscure the pilot’s eyes, but she gestures to and with the ship and it slips behind a group of buildings and drops out of line of sight without a murmur over the coursing of the rain.

SAW Team

AR Team

Nostromo

Sumpter puts a finger on a few log file entries.

SUMPTERPure dumb goddamn luck. We got nosed by a ship way out of the trading lanes, the Nostromo.

The Apes(?)

DEREK LAUGHLINYou’re telling us that the entire back end of your ship blew loose so that someone could steal your shipment of genetically and cybernetically uplifted apes?

Several thousand years old at least

Inhumanly stealthy

Transhuman political/assassination operative / Ranger

One of the remnant of the Masonic Brotherhood

Hates flying/heights

10,000+ years old

Went into seclusion after construction event killed several

Has no real interest in serving the Brotherhood

Transhuman engineer

Mikel

Mikel and Sue are young men, Sue blonde and pale, Mikel dark in skin and hair. Both are dressed in light leather smocks, linen shirts and pants, thick boots and heavy gloves tucked into a loop for easy access.

Sue

Mikel and Sue are young men, Sue blonde and pale, Mikel dark in skin and hair. Both are dressed in light leather smocks, linen shirts and pants, thick boots and heavy gloves tucked into a loop for easy access.

Douglass

Douglass, a slight barely-more-than-a-boy gives a thumbs-up and steadies a stone container easily five-thousand pounds with a gloved hand. The network of crossed chains above it amplify any external motion, damping swings.

Amanda

A woman, probably statuesque in her prime, smiles and slides up behind the man. Today, she’s only slightly younger than he, and her grab from behind is affectionate.

Marvin Ekto

A tiny man with an old-school trilby sporting a CNN press-card in the band (MARVIN EKTO) elbows his way to the front.

Fox News correspondant VERNARD GUILE works his way off to the right where the way is clearer.

Clint Etch

MSNBC’s CLINT ETCH, virtually Marvin’s twin down to the trilby (except Clint’s is a deeper blue) tries muscling up in Marvin’s wake, but only makes it to the second row.

China Gale

Noise continues ramping up as reporters mainly talk to hear themselves speak. CHINA GALE from Bloomberg is trying to do a livefeed right from the scrum.

She holds up her phablet as her “cameraman” just holds a ring-light. People behind her hiss and raise their hands to the level of their eyes.21.

Dirk Hammer

A reporter on the edge lifts two fingers, not asking for permission but attracting attention. He wears a heavy brown trenchcoat and a red ballcap with “Make the Planet Great Again” on it.

DIRK HAMMERDirk Hammer, from the Fast-Talker. There’s no problem with Canadian illegal immigration, sir.

Andrew Angler

From the fringe, ANDREW ANGLER steps forward, all midlife dad trying to look like a skinhead punk.

ANDREW ANGLERAndrew Angler, Weekly Shower. What about the Joos?

President’s Press Secretary

Porkbone Stenchtongue

In the passenger side sits another dog, much heavier, sitting taller, both paws spread out on the dashboard as if to ward off everything that’s coming.

By contrast, his face is resigned, put-upon, tired in that essential way you get when you’ve seen it all and only done the annoying bits. His wide pit bull head flings jowls in time with the swaying of the car. It seems a casual effort to dip his head aside just enough to avoid a whipping branch as the car skids around and around in the circle, pulling doughnuts.

CAPTION “PORKBONE STENCHTONGUE — TIRED”

Mazikeen Jackalhead

In the driver’s seat is a dog. A literal dog. Thin-ish, wirey, barely able to reach the pedals while sitting upright to steer, she’s a real beaut. Part pointer, part terrier, all madness and white-rolling eyes, with a vast dog-smile and a tongue flapping in the false wind. Big triangular ears keep trying to stand up but get forced back by the speed of their passage over the dropped top.

CAPTION “MAZIKEEN JACKALHEAD — CRAZY”

Tree

In the lead is TREE on a heavy modded Harley, all ape-hanger handlebars and exaggerated tail-pipes, his Komondor dreads hanging around his head and blowing in the wind. He must see the road through the intermediary of Pure Fucking Talent because his beady black eyes are only visible one second out of ten.

The Twins

In the second rank come ten or more motorcycles, from crotch-rockets to heavy hogs, all ridden by dogs with a lean and hungry look. Twins, WRENCH and LONGBONE, with their doberman heads and their fixated gazes. They growl nearly as loudly as the bikes.

Fetch

Third rank: trucks. An 18-wheeler driven by FETCH, English Bulldog with an affected bright blue beret. The sides are covered with a complex interwoven mass of graffiti, both crude in execution and elegant. Everyone in the Pack has made their mark here and it shows. Behind Fetch comes a fist-full of smaller trucks, box-sided and pick-up. Most are loaded with supplies but a couple are empty.

The Cats

Fourth rank: cars. And here is the multitude, twenty or thirty cars, each with at least one Pack member driving and sometimes five or six within or hanging out the windows. They’re a wild bunch, made more incongruous by the Ferrari roaring along full to the brim with cats. None of them are long enough to drive the thing, so MOPS rides the steering wheel while FLOPS, PUDDIN and GRACE work the pedals and hang on for dear life. There’s a lot of yowling involved and given that they’re all almost indistinguishable orange tabbies, some confusion.

Kilroy

At the very end, a flatbed tow-truck carrying some broken-down bikes and pulling a car that’s clearly not done being “upgraded.” Driving the tow is a whippet-thin doberman, KILROY.

Ship’s AI

Possibly the saboteur that blew up his shipbody

Dating the Nostromo(?)

Team Leader Gabriel

Breacher Nareen

Officer Dane

Officer Miller

Officer Quarenthape (“Quake”)

Flies the Hu-INF-AIV-1/2

Hungry Infantry Aerial Infantry Vehicle, Inf 1st Company, 2nd Platoon

SGT Founder (AR) (F)

Last comes a smaller soldier, carrying an AR. Careful looking shows the outline of a few pieces of equipment the others don’t have and the thin trace of an antenna arcing in a bow over one shoulder.

She snaps her face-plate up for a moment and it’s a woman, but that’s all we can tell. Hard eyes. Angry eyes. Shoulder-plate reads “FOUNDER”.

PVT Ancil (SAW) (M)

Then comes a man carrying a gun nearly as big as he is, festooned with additional magazines hanging on his combat webbing. If anyone could be said to be casual, he is.

He takes up a commanding position a few feet in front of the ramp, planting himself in an easy stance.

PVT Allen (AR)

COL Vole (SMG) (M)

PVT Larder (AR) PVT Holmen (AR)

Seen at AGRICULTURAL COLONY AG-4423A, CH-6-FAC-3, near CH-6-RES-2(?)

Teacher at the Foundry

Old and feels it

Damaged left leg

Cybernetic arm and leg

Into a chick named Amanda in his Decentralized Management class

Shy and apparently unlikely to ask her out

In his 90’s

Involved with Amanda

Teaches Decentralized Management

Unnaturally spry

Involved with Douglass

Unnaturally spry

Casual as fuck

Recon lead

Unflappable

Covered by dreads

Eyes unseeable

Wrench

Longbone

MopsFlopsPuddinGrace

Engineer/hacker(?)

Has music piped into her helmet audio

Squad command

Just a little bit bloodthirsty

Heavy gunner

Big, burly guy what carries a big, burly gun

Goofy at heart

XO of squad, leader of AR team

Deadpan

Likes and prefers to be foreward

Carries the lightest popgun in the squad

{"cards":[{"_id":"7bde9c158e5274def700001e","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594074,"position":1,"parentId":null,"content":"# Deep Consternation"},{"_id":"7b9dd2a382d7cdfe7f000097","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11626594,"position":3,"parentId":"7bde9c158e5274def700001e","content":"# Pilot Ep"},{"_id":"7bde9b8e8e5274def700001f","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11626597,"position":1,"parentId":"7b9dd2a382d7cdfe7f000097","content":"## Threads"},{"_id":"7bde9ad58e5274def7000021","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594088,"position":1,"parentId":"7bde9b8e8e5274def700001f","content":"### Hellstar"},{"_id":"7bde956c8e5274def7000027","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594098,"position":4,"parentId":"7bde9ad58e5274def7000021","content":"#### Characters"},{"_id":"7bde96ac8e5274def7000026","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594518,"position":0.5,"parentId":"7bde956c8e5274def7000027","content":"##### The Temomere Extent"},{"_id":"7bde8e6f8e5274def7000043","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594239,"position":1,"parentId":"7bde96ac8e5274def7000026","content":"*Eoward Sumpter*\n\nEOWARD SUMPTER (the PILOT) sits enveloped in the pit, hands on a couple of manual controls. A featureless facemask hangs around his neck above a well-worn seal-suit. The top of his helmet tilts back behind his head. Several recently bleeding cuts line his temple and the side of his neck."},{"_id":"7bde329f8e5274def7000063","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594432,"position":2,"parentId":"7bde96ac8e5274def7000026","content":"*Tel*\n\nThe OUTLINE OF THE TELEMERE in one corner of the displays blinks in time with a voice.\n\nTELOMERE\nThe nearest grocery is within an eighteen-thousand year spacewalk, Pilot Sumpter. If you start now --\n\nSUMPTER\n-- I could make it by dinnertime. You have a dark sense of humor, Tel.\n\nTELOMERE\nI'm not the one that had his ship blown up by faulty maintenance.\n"},{"_id":"7bde30318e5274def7000064","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594447,"position":1,"parentId":"7bde329f8e5274def7000063","content":"- Ship's AI\n- Possibly the saboteur that blew up his shipbody\n- Dating the Nostromo(?)"},{"_id":"7bde980d8e5274def7000024","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594099,"position":1,"parentId":"7bde956c8e5274def7000027","content":"##### The Cops"},{"_id":"7bde8fcb8e5274def7000041","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594234,"position":1,"parentId":"7bde980d8e5274def7000024","content":"*Derek Laughlin*\n\nAcross the table is an older gentleman whose badge reads DEREK LOUGHLIN and whose face reads \"good cop.\" The Proxima uniform is light blue with brighter blue work-light piping (now dim)."},{"_id":"7bde8f078e5274def7000042","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594236,"position":2,"parentId":"7bde980d8e5274def7000024","content":"*Sy Hampton*\n\nBadge SY HAMPTON, young, strictly over-dressed for this in a perfectly pressed Proxima uniform whose LEDs had probably been individually polished. Harbor patrol, the badge says. Hampton leans against the door to the room, cross-armed, annoyed -- classic bad cop."},{"_id":"7bb8bb881f2cbb868d000051","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11615292,"position":3,"parentId":"7bde980d8e5274def7000024","content":"##### The SWAT Team\n\nA SWAT team (or local variant) crouches or sprawls behind some makeshift black barriers. Ten men, body armor, pistols and shotguns. Four have SMGs, though in much better shape than Hampton's."},{"_id":"7bb8861c1f2cbb868d000053","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11615153,"position":0.5,"parentId":"7bb8bb881f2cbb868d000051","content":"* Team Leader Gabriel\n* Breacher Nareen\n* Officer Dane\n* Officer Miller"},{"_id":"7bb8ab2b1f2cbb868d000052","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11615150,"position":1,"parentId":"7bb8bb881f2cbb868d000051","content":"* Officer Quarenthape (\"Quake\")"},{"_id":"7bb885bb1f2cbb868d000054","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11615172,"position":1,"parentId":"7bb8ab2b1f2cbb868d000052","content":"- Engineer/hacker(?)\n- Has music piped into her helmet audio"},{"_id":"7bde97008e5274def7000025","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11615306,"position":2,"parentId":"7bde956c8e5274def7000027","content":"##### The Hungry\n\nThen come the soldiers. Black and green mottled light plates over a black body-suit, chunky helmets that cover the whole face on their heads. Each after the first who has a clean, boxy SMG carries a heavy slug-throwing rifle of sensible design. "},{"_id":"7bde41f28e5274def7000061","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594404,"position":2,"parentId":"7bde97008e5274def7000025","content":"*Pilot*\n\nBlack helmets and black face-masks obscure the pilot's eyes, but she gestures to and with the ship and it slips behind a group of buildings and drops out of line of sight without a murmur over the coursing of the rain."},{"_id":"7bde40488e5274def7000062","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594401,"position":1,"parentId":"7bde41f28e5274def7000061","content":"- Flies the Hu-INF-AIV-1/2\n - Hungry Infantry Aerial Infantry Vehicle, Inf 1st Company, 2nd Platoon"},{"_id":"7bde8a018e5274def7000046","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11615304,"position":3,"parentId":"7bde97008e5274def7000025","content":"- **SAW Team**"},{"_id":"7bde537b8e5274def700005b","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11615298,"position":0.5,"parentId":"7bde8a018e5274def7000046","content":"*SGT Founder (AR) (F)*\n\nLast comes a smaller soldier, carrying an AR. Careful looking shows the outline of a few pieces of equipment the others don't have and the thin trace of an antenna arcing in a bow over one shoulder.\n\nShe snaps her face-plate up for a moment and it's a woman, but that's all we can tell. Hard eyes. Angry eyes. Shoulder-plate reads \"FOUNDER\".\n"},{"_id":"7bde4b638e5274def700005c","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594369,"position":1,"parentId":"7bde537b8e5274def700005b","content":"- Squad command\n- Just a little bit bloodthirsty"},{"_id":"7bde498a8e5274def700005d","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11615302,"position":0.75,"parentId":"7bde8a018e5274def7000046","content":"*PVT Ancil (SAW) (M)*\n\nThen comes a man carrying a gun nearly as big as he is, festooned with additional magazines hanging on his combat webbing. If anyone could be said to be casual, he is.\n\nHe takes up a commanding position a few feet in front of the ramp, planting himself in an easy stance.\n"},{"_id":"7bde491f8e5274def700005e","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594378,"position":1,"parentId":"7bde498a8e5274def700005d","content":"- Heavy gunner\n- Big, burly guy what carries a big, burly gun\n- Goofy at heart"},{"_id":"7bde8a268e5274def7000045","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594379,"position":1,"parentId":"7bde8a018e5274def7000046","content":"*PVT Allen (AR)*"},{"_id":"7bde89ba8e5274def7000047","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594406,"position":4,"parentId":"7bde97008e5274def7000025","content":"- **AR Team**"},{"_id":"7bde46768e5274def700005f","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594384,"position":0.5,"parentId":"7bde89ba8e5274def7000047","content":"*COL Vole (SMG) (M)*"},{"_id":"7bde461f8e5274def7000060","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594394,"position":1,"parentId":"7bde46768e5274def700005f","content":"- XO of squad, leader of AR team\n- Deadpan\n- Likes and prefers to be foreward\n- Carries the lightest popgun in the squad"},{"_id":"7bde8dbf8e5274def7000044","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594382,"position":1,"parentId":"7bde89ba8e5274def7000047","content":"PVT Larder (AR)\n PVT Holmen (AR)"},{"_id":"7bde25ec8e5274def7000066","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594507,"position":4,"parentId":"7bde956c8e5274def7000027","content":"##### The Conspiracy(?)"},{"_id":"7bde2a328e5274def7000065","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594510,"position":1,"parentId":"7bde25ec8e5274def7000066","content":"*Nostromo*\n\nSumpter puts a finger on a few log file entries.\n\nSUMPTER\nPure dumb goddamn luck. We got nosed by a ship way out of the trading lanes, the Nostromo."},{"_id":"7bde232a8e5274def7000067","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594516,"position":2,"parentId":"7bde25ec8e5274def7000066","content":"*The Apes(?)*\n\nDEREK LAUGHLIN\nYou're telling us that the entire back end of your ship blew loose so that someone could steal your shipment of genetically and cybernetically uplifted apes?\n"},{"_id":"7bde22528e5274def7000068","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594517,"position":1,"parentId":"7bde232a8e5274def7000067","content":"- Seen at AGRICULTURAL COLONY AG-4423A, CH-6-FAC-3, near CH-6-RES-2(?)"},{"_id":"7bde9a788e5274def7000022","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594080,"position":2,"parentId":"7bde9b8e8e5274def700001f","content":"### Reach"},{"_id":"7bde933a8e5274def7000028","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594273,"position":1,"parentId":"7bde9a788e5274def7000022","content":"### Characters"},{"_id":"7bde92e78e5274def7000029","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594219,"position":1,"parentId":"7bde933a8e5274def7000028","content":"*Brother Lukas Smoke*\n\nLukas takes off the cloak, spreads it, and lays it facing the stove over another chair. Smith rolls one of the mugs around, swirling the contents over the heat.\n\nA thin line is etched around Lukas' neck -- a vine-like tattoo. The leaves might also be circuit traceries.\n"},{"_id":"7bde62c28e5274def7000055","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594353,"position":1,"parentId":"7bde92e78e5274def7000029","content":"- Several thousand years old at least\n- Inhumanly stealthy\n- Transhuman political/assassination operative / Ranger\n- One of the remnant of the Masonic Brotherhood\n- Hates flying/heights\n"},{"_id":"7bde90e08e5274def7000040","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594231,"position":2,"parentId":"7bde933a8e5274def7000028","content":"*Brother Bill Smith / Wisdom*\n\nThe big man sits up, rubbing hands over his face vigorously. For all he's a healthy specimen, he looks exhausted, haunted, mahogany skin pale in a different way from Lukas'."},{"_id":"7bde664f8e5274def7000054","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594325,"position":1,"parentId":"7bde90e08e5274def7000040","content":"- 10,000+ years old\n- Went into seclusion after construction event killed several\n- Has no real interest in serving the Brotherhood\n- Transhuman engineer"},{"_id":"7bde5e4c8e5274def7000056","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594336,"position":3,"parentId":"7bde933a8e5274def7000028","content":"- **Wisdom Foundry**"},{"_id":"7bde5caf8e5274def7000058","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594339,"position":0.5,"parentId":"7bde5e4c8e5274def7000056","content":"*Mikel*\n\nMikel and Sue are young men, Sue blonde and pale, Mikel dark in skin and hair. Both are dressed in light leather smocks, linen shirts and pants, thick boots and heavy gloves tucked into a loop for easy access."},{"_id":"7bc54bcd9f091913b300005a","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11607218,"position":1,"parentId":"7bde5caf8e5274def7000058","content":"- Teacher at the Foundry\n- Old and feels it\n- Damaged left leg"},{"_id":"7bde5dbd8e5274def7000057","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594340,"position":1,"parentId":"7bde5e4c8e5274def7000056","content":"*Sue*\n\nMikel and Sue are young men, Sue blonde and pale, Mikel dark in skin and hair. Both are dressed in light leather smocks, linen shirts and pants, thick boots and heavy gloves tucked into a loop for easy access."},{"_id":"7bc5998c9f091913b3000059","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11607030,"position":1,"parentId":"7bde5dbd8e5274def7000057","content":"- Cybernetic arm and leg"},{"_id":"7bde5c168e5274def7000059","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594342,"position":2,"parentId":"7bde5e4c8e5274def7000056","content":"*Douglass*\n\nDouglass, a slight barely-more-than-a-boy gives a thumbs-up and steadies a stone container easily five-thousand pounds with a gloved hand. The network of crossed chains above it amplify any external motion, damping swings."},{"_id":"7bde5a148e5274def700005a","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11607220,"position":1,"parentId":"7bde5c168e5274def7000059","content":"- Into a chick named Amanda in his Decentralized Management class\n- Shy and apparently unlikely to ask her out\n\n----\n\n- In his 90's\n- Involved with Amanda\n- Teaches Decentralized Management\n- Unnaturally spry"},{"_id":"7bc6174e9f091913b3000057","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11606721,"position":3,"parentId":"7bde5e4c8e5274def7000056","content":"*Amanda*\n\nA woman, probably statuesque in her prime, smiles and slides up behind the man. Today, she's only slightly younger than he, and her grab from behind is affectionate."},{"_id":"7bc616509f091913b3000058","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11607221,"position":1,"parentId":"7bc6174e9f091913b3000057","content":"- Involved with Douglass\n- Unnaturally spry"},{"_id":"7bde9a248e5274def7000023","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594532,"position":3,"parentId":"7bde9b8e8e5274def700001f","content":"### Master President"},{"_id":"7bde86fc8e5274def7000048","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594272,"position":1,"parentId":"7bde9a248e5274def7000023","content":"### Characters"},{"_id":"7bde86678e5274def7000049","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594276,"position":1,"parentId":"7bde86fc8e5274def7000048","content":"*President Raptor*\n\nAn eight-foot tall, twenty-foot long (including the tail) Utahraptor, lightly feathered, white base with burgandy and purple stripes like a loosely wrapped tiger, PRaptor is wearing only a huge broadcast headset with lip-mic in front of his extended maw. One claw is up, throwing the horns, as he leaps with disturbing agility onto the stage, scattering a few overeager reporters."},{"_id":"7bde84568e5274def700004a","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594526,"position":2.5,"parentId":"7bde86fc8e5274def7000048","content":"- **Press Pool**"},{"_id":"7bde84028e5274def700004b","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594283,"position":1,"parentId":"7bde84568e5274def700004a","content":"*Marvin Ekto*\n\nA tiny man with an old-school trilby sporting a CNN press-card in the band (MARVIN EKTO) elbows his way to the front.\n\nMARVIN EKTO\nComing through, coming through! Step off, peon! My spot, my spot!\n"},{"_id":"7bde82458e5274def700004c","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594284,"position":2,"parentId":"7bde84568e5274def700004a","content":"*Vernard Guile*\n\nFox News correspondant VERNARD GUILE works his way off to the right where the way is clearer."},{"_id":"7bde801b8e5274def700004e","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594286,"position":2.5,"parentId":"7bde84568e5274def700004a","content":"*Clint Etch*\n\nMSNBC's CLINT ETCH, virtually Marvin's twin down to the trilby (except Clint's is a deeper blue) tries muscling up in Marvin's wake, but only makes it to the second row."},{"_id":"7bde81508e5274def700004d","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594287,"position":3,"parentId":"7bde84568e5274def700004a","content":"*China Gale*\n\nNoise continues ramping up as reporters mainly talk to hear themselves speak. CHINA GALE from Bloomberg is trying to do a livefeed right from the scrum.\n\nShe holds up her phablet as her \"cameraman\" just holds a ring-light. People behind her hiss and raise their hands to the level of their eyes.\n21.\n"},{"_id":"7bde79968e5274def700004f","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594289,"position":4,"parentId":"7bde84568e5274def700004a","content":"*Dirk Hammer*\n\nA reporter on the edge lifts two fingers, not asking for permission but attracting attention. He wears a heavy brown trenchcoat and a red ballcap with \"Make the Planet Great Again\" on it.\n\nDIRK HAMMER\nDirk Hammer, from the Fast-Talker. There's no problem with Canadian illegal immigration, sir.\n\n"},{"_id":"7bde76258e5274def7000050","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594303,"position":5,"parentId":"7bde84568e5274def700004a","content":"*Andrew Angler*\n\nFrom the fringe, ANDREW ANGLER steps forward, all midlife dad trying to look like a skinhead punk.\n\nANDREW ANGLER\nAndrew Angler, Weekly Shower. What about the Joos?\n"},{"_id":"7bde6b448e5274def7000052","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594311,"position":4,"parentId":"7bde86fc8e5274def7000048","content":"*Diane Killian*\n\nDiane Killian slips in from the side door and whispers in PRaptor's ear-hole. There are some short, sharp gestures of cutting or chopping and a pained grimace."},{"_id":"7bde6a398e5274def7000053","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594313,"position":1,"parentId":"7bde6b448e5274def7000052","content":"- President's Press Secretary"},{"_id":"7bde6e948e5274def7000051","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594525,"position":6,"parentId":"7bde86fc8e5274def7000048","content":"*Vladimir Putin*\n\nPresident Putin of Russia is currently in a small window to the side, looking irate.\n\nPRESIDENT RAPTOR\nPutin, buddy, pal! How's it goin'? Oligarchy workin' out for ya?\n\nPutin grimaces in frustration.\n\nVLADIMIR PUTIN\n(good, solid, boomy surround sound)\nPresident Raptor, I thought we had an agreement on the Ukraine, yes? My Little Green Men would come in with minimal invitation and your NATO forces would -- overlook -- certain procedural irregularities.\n"},{"_id":"7bde1c438e5274def7000069","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594531,"position":4,"parentId":"7bde9b8e8e5274def700001f","content":"### Wolves"},{"_id":"7bde1bcb8e5274def700006a","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11594533,"position":1,"parentId":"7bde1c438e5274def7000069","content":"#### Characters"},{"_id":"7bd34a2f2bab65d177000043","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11601086,"position":3,"parentId":"7bde1bcb8e5274def700006a","content":"- The Pack"},{"_id":"7bde12b08e5274def700006c","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11601999,"position":0.5,"parentId":"7bd34a2f2bab65d177000043","content":"*Porkbone Stenchtongue*\n\nIn the passenger side sits another dog, much heavier, sitting taller, both paws spread out on the dashboard as if to ward off everything that's coming.\n \nBy contrast, his face is resigned, put-upon, tired in that essential way you get when you've seen it all and only done the annoying bits. His wide pit bull head flings jowls in time with the swaying of the car. It seems a casual effort to dip his head aside just enough to avoid a whipping branch as the car skids around and around in the circle, pulling doughnuts.\n\nCAPTION \"PORKBONE STENCHTONGUE -- TIRED\"\n"},{"_id":"7bde1b558e5274def700006b","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11602000,"position":0.75,"parentId":"7bd34a2f2bab65d177000043","content":"*Mazikeen Jackalhead*\n\nIn the driver's seat is a dog. A literal dog. Thin-ish, wirey, barely able to reach the pedals while sitting upright to steer, she's a real beaut. Part pointer, part terrier, all madness and white-rolling eyes, with a vast dog-smile and a tongue flapping in the false wind. Big triangular ears keep trying to stand up but get forced back by the speed of their passage over the dropped top.\n\nCAPTION \"MAZIKEEN JACKALHEAD -- CRAZY\"\n"},{"_id":"7bd349eb2bab65d177000044","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11602075,"position":1,"parentId":"7bd34a2f2bab65d177000043","content":"*Tree*\n\nIn the lead is TREE on a heavy modded Harley, all ape-hanger handlebars and exaggerated tail-pipes, his Komondor dreads hanging around his head and blowing in the wind. He must see the road through the intermediary of Pure Fucking Talent because his beady black eyes are only visible one second out of ten."},{"_id":"7bd256412bab65d17700004c","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11602077,"position":1,"parentId":"7bd349eb2bab65d177000044","content":"- Casual as fuck\n- Recon lead\n- Unflappable\n- Covered by dreads\n- Eyes unseeable"},{"_id":"7bd3481d2bab65d177000047","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11602079,"position":4,"parentId":"7bd34a2f2bab65d177000043","content":"- The Twins\n\nIn the second rank come ten or more motorcycles, from crotch-rockets to heavy hogs, all ridden by dogs with a lean and hungry look. Twins, WRENCH and LONGBONE, with their doberman heads and their fixated gazes. They growl nearly as loudly as the bikes."},{"_id":"7bd349972bab65d177000045","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11601093,"position":1,"parentId":"7bd3481d2bab65d177000047","content":"*Wrench*"},{"_id":"7bd348962bab65d177000046","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11601094,"position":2,"parentId":"7bd3481d2bab65d177000047","content":"*Longbone*"},{"_id":"7bd340442bab65d177000048","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11602084,"position":5,"parentId":"7bd34a2f2bab65d177000043","content":"*Fetch*\n\nThird rank: trucks. An 18-wheeler driven by FETCH, English Bulldog with an affected bright blue beret. The sides are covered with a complex interwoven mass of graffiti, both crude in execution and elegant. Everyone in the Pack has made their mark here and it shows. Behind Fetch comes a fist-full of smaller trucks, box-sided and pick-up. Most are loaded with supplies but a couple are empty."},{"_id":"7bd32d192bab65d177000049","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11602089,"position":6,"parentId":"7bd34a2f2bab65d177000043","content":"- The Cats\n\nFourth rank: cars. And here is the multitude, twenty or thirty cars, each with at least one Pack member driving and sometimes five or six within or hanging out the windows. They're a wild bunch, made more incongruous by the Ferrari roaring along full to the brim with cats. None of them are long enough to drive the thing, so MOPS rides the steering wheel while FLOPS, PUDDIN and GRACE work the pedals and hang on for dear life. There's a lot of yowling involved and given that they're all almost indistinguishable orange tabbies, some confusion."},{"_id":"7bd32cdc2bab65d17700004a","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11601692,"position":1,"parentId":"7bd32d192bab65d177000049","content":"*Mops*\n*Flops*\n*Puddin*\n*Grace*"},{"_id":"7bd312ec2bab65d17700004b","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11602090,"position":7,"parentId":"7bd34a2f2bab65d177000043","content":"*Kilroy*\n\nAt the very end, a flatbed tow-truck carrying some broken-down bikes and pulling a car that's clearly not done being \"upgraded.\" Driving the tow is a whippet-thin doberman, KILROY."},{"_id":"7b9eda7782d7cdfe7f000096","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11626010,"position":4,"parentId":"7bde1bcb8e5274def700006a","content":"- The Masters(?)"},{"_id":"7b9dd18382d7cdfe7f000098","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11626608,"position":2,"parentId":"7b9dd2a382d7cdfe7f000097","content":"## Description\n\nPeople in many worlds fight the same thing: betrayal, oppression, brute violence, ignorance. They rise to the occasion in different ways – or fail to rise.\n\n- The sapient dogs of kudzu-covered Atlanta escaped slavery, came together in the Great Pack, and now seek to strike against their once Masters.\n\n- Two immortal men from a dead Brotherhood choose different paths to the same end: dragging mankind up out of the muck and into the stars on their world.\n\n- In deep space, the seeds of violent conspiracy are laid when a transport ship is detonated beneath its crew, leading to an investigation which could turn up that which cannot be put down again.\n\n- In another time, a 20 foot long Utahraptor from the Cretaceous is elected president with unexpected results, including his campaign promise: \"I Probably Won't Eat You.\"\n\nWhat's going on here? How are these things related? Is this science fiction or fantasy? Questions. There's always questions.\n\n(This is the [90 page pilot of a theoretical series setting up the major characters and factions in a sprawling multi-world chronicle](http://squid-lord.blogspot.com/2017/11/nanowrimo-2017-deep-consternation-full.html). It was written for NaNoWriMo 2017 and is the raw, unpolished, unedited result of that writing.)"},{"_id":"7bde9b218e5274def7000020","treeId":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","seq":11626595,"position":4,"parentId":"7bde9c158e5274def700001e","content":"## Notes"}],"tree":{"_id":"7bde9c218e5274def700001c","name":"Deep Consternation","publicUrl":"deep-consternation"}}